Systems and methods for controlling an electronic throttle valve

• US 10,054,062 B1
• Filed: 12/15/2014
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Original Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Inventors: Andrasko, Steven J., Arbuckle, Jason S., Kirchhoff, Thomas S.
• Primary Examiner(s): McMahon, Marguerite
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, James
• Application Number:
  US14/570,760
• Time in Patent Office: 1,345 Days
• Field of Search: 123399, 701101, 701102, 701103
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2009/0294 Throttle control device with provisions for actuating electric or electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 9/02 concerning induction conduits throttle valves, or arrangements thereof in conduits F02D9/08
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 9/105 having a throttle position sensor detection of actuation F02D11/106

Abstract

A method for controlling a position of an electronic throttle valve of an internal combustion engine is provided. The method includes determining a desired throttle valve position; determining a first feed forward signal based on a rate of change between a previous throttle valve position and the desired throttle valve position; and determining a second feed forward signal based on a comparison of the desired throttle valve position to a limp home position of the throttle valve, in which the throttle valve is biased open by a spring. A summation of the first and second feed forward signals is used to actuate the throttle valve. After the throttle valve has been actuated according to the first and second feed forward signals, the position of the throttle valve is controlled with a feedback controller to obtain the desired throttle valve position.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a position of an electronic throttle valve of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:

determining a desired throttle valve position;

determining a first feed forward signal based on a rate of change between a previous throttle valve position and the desired throttle valve position;

determining a second feed forward signal based on a comparison of the desired throttle valve position to a limp home position of the throttle valve, in which the throttle valve is biased open by a spring;

using a summation of the first and second feed forward signals to actuate the throttle valve; and

after actuating the throttle valve according to the first and second feed forward signals, controlling the position of the throttle valve with a feedback controller so as to obtain the desired throttle valve position.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second feed forward signal also compensates for backlash of a gear train that couples a motor to the throttle valve.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second feed forward signal varies depending on whether moving the throttle valve from the previous throttle valve position to the desired throttle valve position requires a directional change in movement of the throttle valve.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising one of adding and subtracting an incremental duty cycle with the second feed forward signal based on a difference between the desired throttle valve position and the previous throttle valve position in response to the directional change not being required.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising one of adding and subtracting a step change in duty cycle with the second feed forward signal so as to overcome the backlash in response to the directional change being required.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining the second feed forward signal from a duty cycle curve that extends between an upper throttle valve position threshold and a lower throttle valve position threshold representing a deadband around the limp home position.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the upper throttle valve position threshold corresponds to a first duty cycle required to overcome a force of the spring in a first direction and the backlash of the gear train as the throttle valve is opening, and the lower throttle valve position threshold corresponds to a second duty cycle required to overcome a force of the spring in a second direction and the backlash of the gear train as the throttle valve is closing.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the second feed forward signal is a first predetermined duty cycle when the desired throttle valve position is above the upper throttle valve position threshold, and is a second predetermined duty cycle when the desired throttle valve position is below the lower throttle valve position threshold.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising learning the limp home position of the throttle valve on the duty cycle curve when a commanded duty cycle is zero and an actual position of the throttle valve is within a predetermined range of an estimate of the limp home position.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the internal combustion engine is part of a marine propulsion device.

11. A system for controlling a position of an electronic throttle valve of an internal combustion engine to a desired throttle valve position, the system comprising:

a motor coupled to the throttle valve;

a throttle position sensor sensing a current throttle valve position; and

a controller in signal communication with the motor and the throttle position sensor;

wherein the controller determines a first feed forward signal based on a rate of change between a previous throttle valve position and the desired throttle valve position;

wherein the controller determines a second feed forward signal based on a comparison of the desired throttle valve position to a limp home position of the throttle valve, in which the throttle valve is biased open by a spring;

wherein the controller combines the first and second feed forward signals and sends them to the motor to actuate the throttle valve; and

wherein after actuating the throttle valve according to the first and second feed forward signals, the controller compares the current throttle valve position to the desired throttle valve position and generates a feedback signal to correct the position of the throttle valve.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a gear train coupling the motor to the throttle valve, wherein the second feed forward signal also compensates for backlash of the gear train.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the second feed forward signal varies depending on whether moving the throttle valve from the previous throttle valve position to the desired throttle valve position requires a directional change in movement of the throttle valve.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the controller one of adds and subtracts an incremental duty cycle with the second feed forward signal based on a difference between the desired throttle valve position and the previous throttle valve position in response to the directional change not being required.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the controller one of adds and subtracts a step change in duty cycle with the second feed forward signal so as to overcome the backlash in response to the directional change being required.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the controller determines the second feed forward signal from a duty cycle curve that extends between an upper throttle valve position threshold and a lower throttle valve position threshold representing a deadband around the limp home position.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the upper throttle valve position threshold corresponds to a first duty cycle required to overcome a force of the spring in a first direction and the backlash of the gear train as the throttle valve is opening, and the lower throttle valve position threshold corresponds to a second duty cycle required to overcome a force of the spring in a second direction and the backlash of the gear train as the throttle valve is closing.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the second feed forward signal is a first predetermined duty cycle when the desired throttle valve position is above the upper throttle valve position threshold, and is a second predetermined duty cycle when the desired throttle valve position is below the lower throttle valve position threshold.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the controller learns the limp home position of the throttle valve on the duty cycle curve when a commanded duty cycle is zero and an actual position of the throttle valve is within a predetermined range of an estimate of the limp home position.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the internal combustion engine is part of a marine propulsion device.